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1954 seems to be the year when the Show, became more as we know it today. Without sacrificing any of the traditional ‘man of the land’ features, the show’s general appeal was being broadened. Many more activities had begun, mannequin parades, sheep shearing, dog obedience, the show was widely publicised and the Apex Club of Dandenong’s charity stands/spinning wheel enlivened side-show alley and became a regular feature. Port Phillip Affiliated Societies and Young Farmers were up and running. With the advent of television about this time, the “Sun” Miss Show Girl competition was introduced (1957) and TV stars were prominently used for the wheel and judging of the Show Girl quests.
Dandenong was proclaimed a city in 1959 and cars were banned from the showgrounds that year due to lack of space.
Hansard of October 14, 1961 outlined the 1961 Dandenong Land Act Bill, enabling the City of Dandenong to transfer the rights of the Society from the Clow Street site to the Greaves Reserve of 57 acres.
In 1962 the pavilion which had been the pride and joy of the society since 1888 and which had survived a move from the old site, burnt down. That same year the society also lost the football changing rooms to fire.
The 1965 show attracted the second highest ‘gate’ on record – $3737 and entries climbed to an all-time high of 3818. The last of the Clow Street shows had a wet farewell, but did not deter 10,000 people from attending. The show had been held on Clow Street site for 59 years.
1967 was the first show held at Greaves Reserve (which was named after the late William Greaves who donated a portion of the land) and it was a record breaker – 4175 entries and the gate was $4234. The society announced $82,000 was to be spent over the next three years on providing amenities on Greaves Reserve. The State Government gave a grant of $20,000 for the first year with a further $30,000 on a $2 for $1 basis to be spent over 3 years.
Dandenong City Council reported it had spent about $70,000 on principal underground drainage and was calling tenders for the fencing. Two new toilet blocks were constructed before the 1967 show. Exhibition, Sheep, & Poultry pavilions were erected as well as cattle tie-up rails. The Minister for Agricultural Mr. G. L. Chandler MLC officially opened the show saying “This will become one of the outstanding shows of the State”.
In 1969 Channel 2 sent out a team of 26 and televised the show ‘live’ for the first time in the Society’s history.
